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Prepare: Imagine that you are one of the disciples. You have been with Jesus on the road, watching and listening to all he said. Think too about your personal experience of him. What is it that makes you respect him?
A twist to the tale
Jesus’ target audience for this parable was very clear. Chapter divisions in the Bible (added much later, of course) sometimes hide its meaning, and this is a good example. If you take the chapter break away, it’s much easier to see who Jesus was speaking to (vs 1,12).
We’ve already seen that the fig tree was a common biblical image for Israel. Now Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard. This was another familiar picture of Israel (eg Psalm 80:8–18). It’s as though he takes a well-known passage from Isaiah (5:1–7) and then brings a twist to the story.
Criticising leaders
Jesus doesn’t criticise the vineyard for not being fruitful. His complaint is with the ones who cultivate it: the leaders of Israel. For people as familiar with the scriptures as these were, the point of Jesus’ message was clear. And for those who had been at his baptism (1:11) his identity should have been obvious.
Once again, the leaders are in a quandary. They know what they would like to do, but fear of the crowd stops them from doing it. Leaders today still face that challenge.
Respond: Pray for anyone you know who is struggling with the idea of Jesus’ authority over them.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-11-16
A twist to the tale
Jesus’ target audience for this parable was very clear. Chapter divisions in the Bible (added much later, of course) sometimes hide its meaning, and this is a good example. If you take the chapter break away, it’s much easier to see who Jesus was speaking to (vs 1,12).
We’ve already seen that the fig tree was a common biblical image for Israel. Now Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard. This was another familiar picture of Israel (eg Psalm 80:8–18). It’s as though he takes a well-known passage from Isaiah (5:1–7) and then brings a twist to the story.
Criticising leaders
Jesus doesn’t criticise the vineyard for not being fruitful. His complaint is with the ones who cultivate it: the leaders of Israel. For people as familiar with the scriptures as these were, the point of Jesus’ message was clear. And for those who had been at his baptism (1:11) his identity should have been obvious.
Once again, the leaders are in a quandary. They know what they would like to do, but fear of the crowd stops them from doing it. Leaders today still face that challenge.
Respond: Pray for anyone you know who is struggling with the idea of Jesus’ authority over them.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-11-16
Scripture
About this Plan
WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship with God, through reflection and practical application. The WordLive website offers further multimedia content and group Bible study, while registration offers a daily email, journal and bookmarking, and community tools.
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We would like to thank Scripture Union England & Wales for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.wordlive.org/youversion
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